Granola ... it started me thinking...

I love homemade Granola. It is soft and chewy and full of nuts and coconut and tastes so good for breakfast, for a snack or whenever you eat it, but expecially warm, right out of the oven. Did I mention that it is healthy as well? I love that this granola is not hard and crunchy (unless you bake it longer). It is so good and that made me start thinking about whether I would be able to make Granola from my food storage items if I could not go to the store and buy the ingredients.

So, this weekeend while I was shopping, I decided to think about making the ingredients available in my storage. I have oats stored. I have honey, molasses, vanilla and brown sugar stored. But wheat germ, which is a tasty and healthy addition to granola, now that is a different story. So realizing that once you open a jar of wheat germ, it doesn't last long. It goes bad pretty quick. And even worse than that, it costs nearly $4 for a bottle of wheat germ.

So I started thinking again, what if I could buy the wheat germ bulk. Then my mind starting going crazy with all the possibilities. What if I could not only buy it bulk for less, but dry pack it in 1 cup quantities in the mylar bags for when I want to make Granola.

Here is what I found. To buy the same amount of wheat germ in bulk that is in the $4 bottle cost me $.77. Is that crazy or what? So now I'm going to be able to have granola anytime. Even if I can go to the store and buy it, why should I pay almost 5 times as much?

I'm posting my favorite Granola recipe today. I've loved this recipe for years, since my kids were small and they love it too. So when you make it, make sure that your family will be home soon after you take it out of the oven and can try it warm with milk for an afterschool snack. It will become a family favorite.

Next on the agenda; to see how many of the other ingredients I can dry pack, such as coconut, pecans, almonds etc. and add to my everyday food storage. The possibilies just might be endless.

GRANOLA
From: Make-A-Mix Cookery
10 c. oats
1 c. wheat germ
2 ½ c. shredded coconut
2 c. raw sunflower seeds
3 c. chopped nuts (any combination)
1 ½ c. brown sugar, packed
1 ½ c. water
1 ½ c. vegetable oil
½ c. honey
½ c. molasses
1 ½ t. salt
2 t. cinnamon
3 t. vanilla
Raisins or other dried fruit if desired
In large bowl, combine 1st 5 ingredients and mix well. In large saucepan, combine brown sugar, water, oil, honey, molasses, salt, cinnamon & vanilla. Heat till sugar is dissolved but do not boil. Pour syrup over dry ingredients & stir till well coated. Spread into 2 large cookie sheets. Bake 20-30 minutes at 300º stirring occasionally. For crunchy texture bake longer. Cool. Add dried fruit. Store in airtight containers. This makes a huge amount.